A divisional conference titled “Role and Responsibilities of Local Administration in Activating Village Courts” was held on February 22nd, 2025 at the World Trade Center in port city’s Agrabad.
The event, organized by the Office of the Divisional Commissioner of Chattogram & Local Government Division, aimed to provide strategic guidance for enhancing the effectiveness of village courts in 835 unions across eight districts within the Chattogram division. The overarching goal is to ensure quick and affordable resolution of minor local disputes and improve access to judicial services for rural communities.
The program was organized under the Activating Village Courts in Bangladesh Project, supported by the Government of Bangladesh in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the European Union (EU). Since its inception, the project has transformed countless lives by providing accessible justice to marginalized and underprivileged communities, especially women and disadvantaged groups, said the speakers.
The conference was presided over by Dr. Md. Ziauddin, Divisional Commissioner of Chattogram. Participants included Union Parishad Chairmen/Panel Chairmen from each upazila, four Upazila Nirbahi Officers (UNOs) from each district, and Deputy Directors of Local Government from all eight districts (excluding the Chattogram Hill Tracts).
Mr. A.K.M. Tariqul Alam, Additional Secretary of the Local Government Division and National Project Director of the Activating Village Courts in Bangladesh Phase III Project, attended as the chief guest. He emphasized, “Village courts are an effective means of delivering judicial services, playing a crucial role in ensuring justice at the grassroots level.” He provided strategic directions to further strengthen village courts and thanked the Local Government Division, UNDP, and the EU for their continued support.
The conference also featured speeches from special guests, including Mr. Md. Ahsan Habib Palash, DIG of Chattogram Range, and Ms. Farida Khanam, Deputy Commissioner and District Magistrate of Chattogram and Mr. Hossain Mohammad Kabir Bhuiyan, Deputy Police Commissioner (West) of Chattogram Metropolitan Police. The welcome address was delivered by Mr. Muhammad Anowar Pasha, Additional Divisional Commissioner (General) and Director of Local Government, Chattogram.
On behalf of the UNDP, Mr. Mohammad Sirajul Hoque, Team Leader (Planning, M&E, and Reporting) of the Activating Village Courts Phase III Project, also spoke at the event.
Key stakeholders from local government institutions, Union Parishad Chairmen, District Resource Team members, District Information and Legal Aid Officers, officials from the Divisional Commissioner’s office, and representatives from various media outlets were present.
A presentation on the progress and activities of the project in the Chattogram division was delivered by Mr. Md. Noman Hossain, Deputy Director of Local Government, Chattogram.
Speakers at the conference highlighted the leadership roles of District Commissioners, Deputy Directors of Local Government, and Upazila Nirbahi Officers in implementing local-level activities across 78 upazilas in the eight districts of Chattogram division (Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Cumilla, Noakhali, Chandpur, Lakshmipur, Brahmanbaria, and Feni—excluding the three districts of the Chattogram Hill Tracts).
They praised the Union Parishad Chairmen for raising awareness about village courts and encouraging the public to utilize these judicial services. The speakers recommended regular meetings of village court management committees at the district and upazila levels and emphasized implementing decisions from these meetings to ensure active village courts in all union parishads across the country.
They also stressed the need for creating a women-friendly environment in village courts through exemplary initiatives by the chairmen.
Participating chairmen called for an increase in the financial jurisdiction of village courts and sought administrative support at all levels to implement court decisions effectively.
It is worth noting that the project aims to offer accessible, low-cost, prompt, and transparent dispute resolution at the local level. It works particularly to secure justice for poor and marginalized communities, especially women and disadvantaged groups. Currently, the project is in its third phase, serving rural communities in 4,453 unions across 468 upazilas in 61 districts of eight divisions (excluding the three districts of the Chattogram Hill Tracts).
Young Power in Social Action (YPSA) as local level implementing partner are facilitating local Govt. and administration in 15 districts of 3 divisions (Chattogram, Dhaka and Sylhet) for the successful implementation of the project and achieve the overall objective.
